About 5 km from Bhimtal is a hill known as Hidimba Parvat. It gets its name from demon Hidimba of Mahabharata. Hidimba Parvat also boasts of having another attraction in form of Vankhandi Ashram housing an array of wild animals in the lap of hills. This sanctuary is constructed and maintained by Vankhandi Maharaj, who is a monk and also a great environmentalist.